earth and needeth not to borrow a Synagogue or house made with hands Act. 17.24 35. his chiefe delight is to keepe his Court with those the Chappels of whose soules are best adorned with charity and holinesse Know you not that your bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6 1â— It is the scandall of our times that some Churches haue beene turned into stables this gangrene is inlarged and the Temples of our soules are become the Augean stables of all sinnefull filthinesse the drunkard translateth his temple into a swine-styue the wanton his into a stew the couetous his into a denne of theeues the prophane swearer his into an ordinary or dycing Roome where you shall heare no other language but hâ—â—â— oathes euery notorious sinner is a sacrilegious poâ—â—tor or destroyer of this spirituall Synagogue fraâ—â—d by the founder of heauen and earth I conclude Yee are the temple of the liuing God 2 Cor. 6.16 I shall pray that God may please to dwell with you to walke in you that hee may be our God and we his people Now behold the Templer for Vs For the hungerpined onely to behold plentifull and delicately furnished tables or for the extreamely indigent onely to gaze vpon huge masses of treasure might rather proue a torment then a comfort come therefore now and let vs behold the blessed vnion of the Centurions magnificence and our happinesse We we are the heires of this sacred and ample bounty Hee hath built Vs a Synagogue Vs The end giueth glory to the action and bringeth happinesse to the agent lauish expenses cannot entitle a man liberall nor rash boldnesse stile any man valiant for inconsiderate rushing into dangers is a frenzy and profuse casting away of treasures is frantique prodigality that bountie is most honourable which hath the largest and most religious obiect Hee sheweth his bounty to man and his piety towards God most happily who doth erect a Synagogue for the people of God Vs hath a fourefold relation 1 Vs Enemies 2 Vs Captiues 3 Vs Strangers 4 Vs Of the True Church Vs Enemies Who was not a voluntary vassall was reputed an enemie to the Roman State the greater farre the sweetnesse of our Centurion to so peruerse so Iewish an aduersarie friendship and kindred make too streight a spheare for charity to moue in Omnes odit qui malos odit Aug. ep for he shaâ—â— scarsely affect any â—ho embraceth only those to whom he is obliged by merit or by blood let the memory of this Captaine be as an oyntment powred forth he knew as well how to â—â—ercome in loue as to conquer with the sword Math. 5.43 The Iewes esteemed it lawfull policy to hate their Enemies but our Centurion was not sowred with this leuen of their doctrine nor infected with their practise it may be he had obserued that the charitable sunne did impart her cherishing beames vnto the good and bad and that light he would follow hee is an Angell rather then a man that can ouercome euill with good it was an act I had almost said able to make surely to snew a God To loue an enemie so the Apostle of our God of loue Math. 5.44 Hee loued vs when wee were enemies â—mitate the Lord Iesus Blesse them that curse you Loue them that hate you for this is to be a Son of God and a follower of our Centurion Vs Captiues Misery and infamy are linked together in the Captiues chaine nor is it so much pittie as pride or couetousnesse that doth continue life vnto the conquered it was the barbarous câ—stome of the insulting Romans to driue those who their sword had subdued by herds through their City as the sport and scorne of women and children then to sell them as beasts or which was the greater curtesie because the shorter tragedy to cast them to the beasts tumble them into the sea or set them at liberty by some other death but it seemeth our Centurion was truly valiant who neuer knew enemy but in the field nor vsed other bonds in the City but loue nor other prison but a Synagogue Proper is the doctrine of St. Augustine We are all members of that large body of mankind these louely titles of neighbour or brother are not built so much vpon consanguinity or similitude of shape as vpon the image of God engrauen in our reasonable soule Haue pitty vpon those who are in bonds Be kindly affectionated one towards an other Rom. 12.10 Vs Strangers True charity scarse knoweth the name of stranger all are brothers all children or fellow members in her register Inuisum hominum genus Tacit. she doth guide the eye and temper the heart of our Centurion The Iewes are deseruedly called a Nation hated by all because spitefull to al they esteemed all other people as bastards and others reputed them as rebels but see no peruersenesse of nature no iealousie of rebellion no nor that exasperating name of Iew can abate the edge of truly compassionate loue Parity in condition should rayse a mutuall tendernesse in affection we are all strangers and without treason it may be printed Emperors and Kings are but soiourners euen in their owne dominions Let not our loue bee estranged from them who are of a strange Nation entertaine strangers Hebr. 13.2 Vs the people of God As yet the Iewish Synagogue was a true Church and the sonnes of Iacob the royall Priest-hood happy therefore that zeale which did expresse piety toward God in magnificent fauours vpon Gods people Religion hath her name for vniting mens consciences affections nor can there be a fayrer euidence of true religion then loue to the Church Psal 16.3 All my delight is vpon the Saints was Dauids note and his temples could take no rest vntill a place was found for the habitation of God Brethren loue you God honour his seruants repaire and beautifie his temples the farewell of our Centurion reuiueth that of the Apostle Doe good to all Gal. 6.10 but especially to the house and household of faith for this is to loue the people of God and to build a Synagogue The Roman Captaine is now discharged and if euer he had a parallell hee must bee raysed from our English Centurion from THOMAS SVITON our magnificent and sole founder Thankefully to commend vnto posterity Commemoration the famous acts of deceased Worthies is an office of as true gratitude as great and venerable antiquity Come therefore now let vs triumph ouer those commune enemies of eminent goodnesse Igâ—â—rance and Enuy Were it a point of the same facility to bury in obliuion as to locke vp in silence the ineffable magnificence of our SVTTON the Auditor or Reader should haue had no subiect of his criticks from my tongue or pen. but to forget SVTTON totally is as impossible as to expresse him fully you shall therefore censure me so you will honour him my neuer yet practised Panygyricall veine is more
be made manifest Gold Siluer Pretious stones these are solid Å¿ Caietane in 1 Cor. 3. glorious and high prized vertues Gold the loue of God Siluer charity to man Pretious stones these are the seuerall acts of piety toward God and mercy toward man Wood Hay Stuble by these are figured dangerous sinnes Wood is the wormes nest of corroding enuy or malice Hay is ambition Stuble this is the type of obstinate schismaticks verse 15. now followeth the knot the maine difficulty if any mans worke be burnt he shall suffer losse but he himselfe shall be Saued but this sauing is equall with damning so t Ambr. in 1 Cor. 3 Chrysost in eundem locum St Ambrose he shall bee saued by fire his body and his soule shall not bee wasted by the torments of hell St. Chrysostome proueth what St. Ambrose affirmeth That is said sometime to bee saued which is not consumed as gold in the fire as the liuer in the fable this this indeed is the hell of hels death without death and torments without consumption least this might seeme strange St. Chrysostome reinforceth his argument with an excellent obseruation from Scripture language It is the elegance of sacred rhetoricke to giue gentle names to seuere punishments as hell and the graue are called the places where all things are forgotten which at the first view may promise quiet and the obliuion of all calamities thus the death of the wicked is termed a sleepe thus it is said of the wicked Iob 21.33 That the clods of the earth shall bee sweete vnto him here is most bitter and desperate sweetnesse the same Father shall conclude x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost hee that buildeth with Hay or Stuble shall continue in endlesse torment Apply Application y Reâ—ie â—â—â—ficare est tiâ— embuâ— â—re Aug. He buildeth most fairly who liueth most religiously pluck therefore the hand out of the bosome worke and build the best approbation of our faith ariseth from the operation of the hand as the curious Artizen so the religious Christian must be knowne by his handy worl e diuinely Irenaeus z Quâ—d feris lucet inâ—â— sâ—t quod intus est foriâ— luceat Irenaeus lib. 4. Let your charity burne within and holinesse shine without by the former you shall auoyd hypocrisie by the latter idleness You must all bee builders God is the Master of the worke all the Sonnes of men King Priest and Peoplâ— must be labourers Birds make their nests bâ—asts haâ—e â—â—â—ir dâ—â—â—s let men build houses let thâ—m â—â—aâ—e â—uâ—râ—asting habiâ—aâ—iâ—ns Make you friends of the vnrighteous Mammon that ye may bâ— receiued into euerlaâ—ting habitations let vs heare the Sermon â—f Dauid to his Princes Set your heart 1. Cron. 22 1â— and your souâ—â— to seeke the Lord your God Ari e and build As liuely sâ— nes come â—â—e â—nto Christ thâ— liuing stonâ— 1 Pet. 2.4.5 that since you cannot build of yourse ues you may be built vp as a spiritual house accoptabâ—â—â— Goâ—â—y Ieâ—us Christ. I shaâ—l end with tâ—e Apostle Ephe. 2 2â— Tâ—e Lord Ieâ—us build vs all together for an habitation of God through the â—pirit We haue aâ—â—â—ady seene our â—ounder as a Captaine and a Bâ—iâ—der now behold him like a Cherubim â—ith winges ouer his hands this you may finde in his Expedition he Hath As the Eagle haâ—â—eth to the prâ—y or the greedy Souldier to the â—poyle so our Centurion to the most noble acts 〈…〉 piety a Pluâ—imum tu omni re celeriâ—as Sene. Bâ—â— ib. 2. sure our leader was one of the Râ—â—â— Câ—â—â—res aâ—d it was his honour for where the aâ—â—â—â—â—igious there Iâ—hâ— his march is most glorious eâ—â—â—dition must bâ— commâ—â—â—abâ—â— b â—â—â—ncere Vo enâ—â—s aâ—â—â—â—â— â—mb â— Nâ—◠〈◊〉 in all câ—mmendable aâ—tions the reason is euident Câ—lâ—rity is a faire charâ—â—ter 〈◊〉 sincerity and a quicâ—e hand is a promising signe of a willing heart 〈◊〉 into the family of Abraham you shall read hâ—artinesse in nimâ—lâ—nes First Abraham runneth in perâ—â—n to meet the Angels Gen. 18.2 6 7. then hee charged Sâ—â—ah â—o make read quickly then he runneth againe to the â—â—â—rd lastly the Sâ—ruant is as quicke 〈…〉 thâ—â— drâ—sse thus we see 〈…〉 Wiâ—e Sâ—ruant aâ—â— in Abraâ—â—ms â—â—nt are 〈…〉 in â—he performance of any seruice vnâ—â— God I wiâ—l is but a large complement and we know those to bee most slow in performance who are nimâ—â—e in promise sweet and honorable is the memory of this Founder He did not frame a Colledge in the paper modell of a litigious will but saw a Synagogue raysed at his owne proper charge to the glory of God so the Eâ—ders he Hath The innocent Doue hath a nimble wing so those good soules which are quickned with that Spirit who once appeared in the forme of a Doue flee spedily vnto workes of piety the Sunne cannot so much reioyce to runne his course as the faithfull to consummate their race of Godlines the elements of fire aire water are actiue and quicke in their motions so where soeuer the holy fire of zeale the water of sanctification or the breath of the Spirit are found there is a speedy motion nay euen the dul lazy earth is moued with an earthquake Gen. 49.21 Act. 9.36 but no terror can stirre the earthly minded man the blessing of Nephthali was to haue the swift feete of a Hind Dorcas was as nimble as the Roe c Vtinam precenta faminarum imitarentur viri Hier. Oh that good men would imitate the speed of this woman Salomon saith Be not slacke in thy businesse I beseech you be not slow in the busines of the Lord Prou. 10.26 Leuit. 11.41 fâ—r snayles wormes and creeping creatures were baniâ—hed from the Altar of God to instruct vs that slow paced men can be no pleasing sacrifice for our God To spurre vp our deuotion let vs consider that God is pleased to pay magnificently for the expedition of man Mans expedition and Gods saluation embrace each other for no sooner can the deuout soule say I haue kept the faith 2. Tim. 4.7 but hee may read Henceforth a crowne of righteousnesse is layd vp for thee no sooner can our Sauiour proclaime I haue fulfilled the will of God but a voyce is heard from heauen This is my beloued Sonne Luke 9.35 nor is God more indulgent to the naturall Sonne of his bosome then to the zealous and his adopted sonnes among the children of men for obserue Matth. 19.28 doth Peter come vnto our Sauiour and say Wee haue left all and followed thee the blessing is annexed You shall sit on thrones in the kingdome of heauen Nay but impatient incredulity must haue some-what in hand what would you expect will you bee content with a thousand for one hundred this is more then extortion dare challenge yet the speedy soule shall haue more euen one hundred for one Matth.
as there shall be one man vpon the earth let the memorie of our Founders be as a banquet among posterities I am not besides the cushion while in the Synagogue I honour Arts for whatsoeuer was in the Schoole was after a most eminent manner in the Synagogue but I haue stayed too long among the lower formes Now wee may heare a diuinity lecture or a sermon Cices As the Orator did desire another Crassus to decipher to the life the excellent worth of Oratorie so I confesse ingeniously that I heartily wish some powerfull and eloquent Apollo would lend mee a tongue to speake the admirable and soule sauing excellency of learned and deuout sermons As euery thing of price so the knowledge of diuine mysteries doth require trauaile Prayer meditation and song studie are expected in the preacher memory deuotion and attention in the hearer Hocker l. 5. Ecc. Pol. it is well obserued by that Oracle of our Church that we bring not knowledge with vs into the world and therefore the lesse opportunities or abilities the people haue in themselues the more they need the helpe and should be thankfull for the labours of learned ministers Christ was not onely the word but a Preacher nor did hee onely merit the crowne but direct his Auditors in the way of euerlasting saluation I may compare good sermons to Moses and Aaron conducting the Israel of Christians to the Canaan of heauen to the keyes of Dauid to the salt whereby conuersation is seasoned Mâ—th â— 1â—.14 1. Cor 1â— or to light whereby the soule is guided the Apostle hath all It pleased God by preaching to saue them that belieue God hath giuen the heart and great is the number of our Synagogues God hath giuen the word and greater is the number of Preachers but where is the armie of conscionable hearers Chrysost the obedient sonne doth often visit the house of his father so the Saint doth frequent the earthly Mansion of his heauenly God Saluianus l. 5. Spernitur Dei templum vt conâ—urra tur ad theatrum but may not the complaint of Saluianus bee reuiued The Temple of God is despised and the stage more honoured Churches are empty but Tauerns and Brothel-houses are throngued A Recusant can haue no apologie art thou a sinner in the Temple thou shalt finde a Sauiour hast thou a bleeding conscience here shalt thou finde the Balme of Gilead art thou a Saint here shalt thou find God ready to establish thee Psal 122.1 Oh for the spirit of Dauid Hee was glad when they said vnto him they would go vp to the house of God The way to the Church triumphant in heauen lyeth through the Church militant on earth I will conclude this meditation with the word of Iacob which was vsually engrauen vpon the frontispice of ancient Synagogues The Temple is the house of God and the gate of heauen the Righteous will enter in and heare what the Lord will say vnto him and meditate what he shall say vnto the Lord and that is the second benefit of the Synagogue To honour God In vaine shall the most cloquent Apollos touch the care of man by Sermons vnlesse the eare of God bee mâ—â—â—d for a bâ—â—ssing by prayers Prayers are the Alpha and Omega â—f all religious exercises in sermons God vouchsafeth to spâ—aâ—â— to man in prayers man is admitted to speake to God in sermons God descendeth vnto man in prayers man ascendeth vnto God Sermons are the seed from whence gâ—od prayers spring prayers are the deaw which make sermons flourish wherefore as the two Tables and the poâ— of Manna were in the Arke so the Tables of sermons and the Manna of prayers are conserued in our Synagogâ—e I dare not aduenture vpon the copious diuision of the Apostle and shew vnto you the difference and the excellencies 1 Tim. 2.1 of prayers intercession supplication and thanksgiuing onely thus Prayers 1 Supplicatâ—rie for blessings to be obtained 2 Gratulatorie for blessings receiued First of Supplication Supplications are the Iacobs â—ather where by the soule mounteth vp to heauen they are the delight of God and the happinesse of man zealously to â—eseech is powerfully to command thus did Iacob wrâ—sâ—le with the Lord and triumph nay the kingdome of heauen inuiteth and suffereth violence the pâ—easing violence of importunate and strong supplications The omnipotent Maiestie whose title is inuincible loueâ—h tâ—â—â—e euer come by an Army of humble suppliance Would you â—â—e vicâ—orious oâ—er your insolent enemies prayers are the most prosperous Souldiers While Moyses holdeth vp his hand the troopes of Amalecke fall to the ground let vs therefore furrow our cheekes with an inundation of teares and beleaguer the Lord of Hoasts with our continuall prayers let our deuoutest supplications sharpen the swords of our Souldiers prosper the designes of our Commanders beautifie the Crowne of our religious Soueraigne and continue a roome for euery man of this Iland to sit vnder his owne vine Cry mightily vnto God and pray instantly for the well faire of Ierusalem Would you bee blessed with the pardon of your sinnes with the hidden Manna of a peacefull conscience with a crowne of eternall glory or with what euer the magnificent hand of God can conferre Prayer is the price and the Temple the house of prayer Psal 48.9 We will pray and wayt for the louing kindnesse of our God in the midst of his Temple Now of Thanksgiuing in the Temple euery man speaketh of the praise of God and no maruaile for as St. Augustine largely No penne Aug. ep 32. it ep 77. no tongue can bee better employed then in expressing no heart no soule then in conceiuing the great debt of our thankefulnesse vnto God such and so infinite is the bounty of our God that night and day with bended knees inflamed hearts and wel tuned tongues Arnob. l. 1. we ought to pay the hourely tribute of our deuoutest praises What can God do more then crowne man with louing kindnesse what can man do lesse then exalt God with thankfulnesse no man so poore but he may no man so great but hee should offer this cheape yet pretious incense To this end Altars Temples Synagogues Churches are raysed to this end man and Angels created that God may receiue the glory of praises In all things giue thankes for 1 Thess â— 18 therefore was our Synagogue builded Apply The building is a Synagogue It is not onely lawfull but commendable to call vpon and praise the name of God in our priuate families and secret closets but the greatest blessings do accompanie the sacrifices of a Synagogue that is a Congregation The Lord is in his glory when he is inclosed with the greatest multitude of petitioners Oh that men would praise the Lord in the assembly of the Elders Psal 107.32 in the midst of the Synagogue Againe each soule should be a liuing a holy Temple God indeed is the Lord of heauen and